Mary Ann Bonalsky, 70, of Fords, NJ, formerly of Union City, NJ, died peacefully with a battle of multiple illnesses on April 25, 2010 at Haven Hospice at JFK Hospital Center in Edison.

Born in Union City, where she lived most of her life, at age 16 and a senior in Holy Rosary High School, Mary Ann was asked to be appointed by Rep. Senator T. James Tumulty as the first woman to be midshipwoman to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Mary Ann was quoted "We have equal rights with the male and as far as intelligence is concerned, we are considered just as good and even better by learned men." She would have been the first female to Annapolis.

She obtained her Bachelor and Master degrees. After graduating from Jersey City State College in 1961, she taught in West New York School District. Starting her career in the sixth grade she had a student from Cuba who could not speak any English his name was Albio Sires, who became the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly and current Congressman from the 13th Congressional District of Hudson County. After a few years in teaching, she was promoted as a social worker for the West New York Memorial High School where she retired in 2004 with 44 years in education.

She served on the negotiating team for West New York Teacher's Association and she was on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Education Association. She is the longest serving executive member in the history of the NJEA. She currently was the Vice President of the Hudson County Education Association and a delegate to the National Education Association as representative to the assembly for over thirty years. Most recently, she served on the NEA as a representative from New Jersey Retired Educator's Association.

As a loyal and wonderful lady, she devoted her time and efforts to education, her family and friends.

Mary Ann was predeceased by her father - Walter, mother - Genevieve and sister - Genevieve. She is survived by a nephew, Mark his wife Lisa and their two children: Nicholas and Ally; a niece, Genevieve Marie, her husband James and their two children: Charlotte and James. She also leaves close cousins and many friends.

Visitation is Tuesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday from Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Fords Avenue, Fords, NJ followed by a 10:30 funeral Liturgy at Our Lady of Peace R.C. Church. Burial will follow in Kings Highway Cemetery, Milford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested all donations in her memory be sent to the American Cancer Association, www.cancer.org.